Stretching frame



Oct. 10, 1933. Y Y J DQUGHERTY 1,929,629

' STRETCHING mm m Filed Feb. 20,1952 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR Oct. 10, 1933. J. F. DouGHERTY STRETCH ING FRAME Filed Feb. 20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MAN

Oct. V10, 1933. J. F. DOUGI -IERTY STRETQHING FRAME Filed Feb. 20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Get; 10, 1933. J H ERTY I 1,929,629

I \STRETCHING. FRAME Filed Feb. 20, 1932 S'Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Oct. 10, 1933. DQUGHERTY 1,929,629

STRETCHING FRAME Filed Feb. 20, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I iiliflVENTbR y @4 y M.

Patented Get. 10, 1933 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to devices for supporting fabric or other material for the purpose of stretching the latter as, for example, during the process of drying. A familiar example of devices 85 of this character is found in the ordinary curtain stretcher and while the invention is designed principally for that purpose, it is not limited thereto.

I am aware that stretching frames for curtains 1c and the like have previously been proposed, but all such devices with which I am familiar are characterized by certain serious objections. It is an object of my invention, therefore, to improve upon known types of stretching frames.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a stretching frame comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed posts. Supporting feet are hinged to the posts and braces are provided for maintaining the proper relation between the feet and 22 the posts to support the latter. A top rail connecting the posts is hinged to one of them and is releasably secured to the other. A bottom'rail is connectable to both posts. The raiis are hinged for folding at thecenter thereof.

An auxiliary frame is formed by the free-ends of the rails and a pair of auxiliary posts. One of the posts is removably secured to one of the posts aforementioned and the other auxiliary .post is similar to the latter. An auxiliary cross rail may 3 be used to connect the auxiliary posts.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof. In the drawings:--

85 Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a view to an enlarged scale of a connecting clamp for securing parts of the frame together;

Figure 4 is a sectional view substantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view to enlarged scale along the line V--V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VIVI of Figure 5 Figure 7 is a partial perspective view looking from the rear showing one of the main posts erected;

Figure 8 is a partial side elevation with parts in section showing a detail of the brace for the post;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a detail appearing inFigures 5 and 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the 55 manner of collapsing a portion of the frame; and

its rabbeted edge, and a backing strip 21.

. 19 forming part of the posts.

Figure 11 is a.sectional view along the line XI-XI of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the stretching frame of my invention comprises posts 10 and 11 having feet 12 and 13 hinged thereto by hinges 14. A rod 15 is pivoted to each of the feet 12 and 13 and traverses a clip 16 pivoted to the posts (see Figure 7). As shown in Figure 8, the clip 16 is substantially a box of sheet metal with holes therethrough for receiving the rod 15. The rod 15 is slotted at 17 for engagement with the edge of one of the openings through the end walls of the clip. A spring 18 tends to force the edge of the opening into the slot to lock the rod 15 and, therefore, the foot 12 with respect to the post 10.

The posts 10 and 11 are built up of a rabbeted strip 19 having pins or nails 20 projecting from The rabbeted strip and the backing strip are screwed together.

Top and bottomrails 22 and 23 connect the posts 10 and 11. The rails comprise lengths of strip with rabbeted edges similar to the strip The nails or pins 20 in these strips are inserted from the recessed edge of the strip in the usual manner except that the entering ends thereof are clinched over as shown in Figure 4. Each of the rails 22 and 23 comprises two pieces of rabbeted strip hinged together at 25. A flanged plate 26 is secured to one of the rabbeted strips in each rail and overlies the joint. A wing nut 27 having a cam skirt 28 on the other member of each rail is provided for locking the members of both rails in axial relation. The edge of the plate 26 engaged by the skirt 28 may be bent up for firmer engagement with said skirt. A slot in the flange of the plate 26 embraces a screw 29 in the rail member to which the plate 26 is not permanently secured,

The rail 22 is hinged to the upper end of the post 10 by hinge plates 30. The hinge plate secured to the rail 22 overlies the top of the post 10 and the rail and post themselves are provided ,with an offset joint 31 so that an exact right The rail 22 similarly abuts the top of the post 11. A'clamp for securing the post 11 relative to the rail 22 comprises a rear plate 33 and a front hinge 34 secured to the post 11. A screw 35 is pivoted to the upper end of the plate 33 and the movable portion of the hinge 34 is slotted at 36 for receiving the screw 35, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The post 11 may thus be adjusted back and forth along the rail 22 to the desired position and there clamped by tightening a thumb nut on the screw 35. The hinge 34 carries a projecting index or gauge finger, the end of which is in substantial alinement with the nails 20 in the rail 11. This finger cooperates with the scale on rail 22 so that adjustment of the device to ac-. commodate curtains of different size, is facilitated.

The rail 23 may be secured to the post 10. in abutting relation at any adjusted elevation by a clamp 37 similar to that just described.

Referring now to Figures 1, 5 and 6, the backing strip 21 of the post 11 is recessed at 38 to receive a clamping strap 39 passing therethrough. This strip as adjustable vertically of the post 11. It may be fixed in any desired position by a clamping plate 40 lying against the post 11 and having the pin 41 projecting through a slot in the strap 39. A cam lever 42 pivoted on the strap 39 provides means for forcing the clamping plate 40 into firm engagement with the post 11, whereby the clamping strip is tightly clamped thereto.

The clamping strap 39 is also provided with a clamp for engaging the rail 23. This clamp comprises a plate 43 having a pin 44 projecting through the front of the plate 39. The pin 44 has a slot 45 traversed by a disc cam 46 integral with an actuating lever 47. The cam is pivoted on the plate 39 at 48. When the lever 47 is actuated, the cam disc, through the pin 44, forces the plate 43 firmly againstthe rail 23 to bind the rail to the'post 11.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the rabbeted edges of the members constituting the main frame, that is, the posts 10 and 11 and the rails 22 and 23, all lie in the same plane except in the neighborhood of the intersection of the rail 23 and the post 11. As shown in Figure 11, there is a substantial distance between the plane of the rabbeted edge of the rail 23 and'that of the post 11. This condition introduces an undesirable kink or twist in the edge of the curtain at that point. In order to avoid such kink or twist, I employauxiliary pin plates 49 having flanges embracing the post 11'. As shown in Figure 11, the plate 49 slopes gradually from the post 11 to the rail 23 and permits the curtain being stretched to be trained .from the former to the latter on a gradual curve so that no objectionable twists are found in the curtain or fabric when dried.

Auxiliary posts 50 and 51 cooperate with the overhanging ends iof the rails 22 and 23 to provide an auxiliary stretching frame. The post 50 comprises merely a length of rabbeted strip having metallic straps 51 for removably securing it to screws 52 in the post 11. The ends of the straps 51v are slotted for engagement with the screws 52. A notched bar 52' attached to the edge of the post 11 receives the lower edge of the upper strap 51 when the post 50 is forced downward into locking position. The post 51 is similar to the post 11 but has a short fixed foot thereon and is secured to the rail 22 by means identical with that connecting the post 11 thereto. An auxiliary rail 53 extends between the posts 50 and 51 and is adjustable relative thereto. The rail 53 issecured to the post 50 by a clamp similar to that connecting the posts 11 and 51 to the rail 22. The post 51 and the rail 53 are connected by a clamp 39, such as that already described. A collapsible righttriangle 54, comprising a set of metal links, is carried on a plate 55 slidable on the rail 53. The vertical link has flanges 56 and 56' which insure the proper right angle relation between the posts 51 and the rail 53. Pin plates 49 may be employed at the intersection of the posts 50 and 51 with the rails 23 and 53, respectively. v

Figure 10 illustrates how the post 10 and the rail 22 hinged thereto may be collapsed. The brace 32 is first released byactuating the clip thereof to disengage the slot in the brace rod. Angular movement of the rail 22 relative to thepost 10 is then possible. The wing nut 2'7 engaging the plate 26 should be released to permit folding of,the two portions of the rail 22. The brace for the foot 12 is then released and the entire structure can be folded into a very small compass. The rail 23 can be collapsed by means or the hinge between the portions thereof and'the feet of the posts 11 and 51 likewise folded into parallel relation with the axes of the posts. The clamp connecting the'rails to the posts in abutting relation is very readily disconnected, as is also the clamp employed for securing the rails to the posts where an overlying relation is necessary.

From the foregoing description, it will appear that the invention is characterized by a high degree of collapsibility and that, when collapsed, it is exceedingly compact. The assembly or taking down of the frame is not difiicult and the frame is readily adjustable to different sizes. Graduations of any desired type, as shown in Figure 3, will be useful for this purpose. They also enable the user to obtain the desired right angle relation-between the rails and posts comprising the frame. The invention is furthermore characterized by the advantage that two curtains can be stretched simultaneously. A large curtain, for example, can be stretched between the main posts, and a smaller curtain between the auxiliary posts. The frame is very rigid when properly assembled and means are provided for insuring that the members forming the sides of the frame meet at right angles.

Although I have described herein but one present preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be realized that numerous changes in the embodiment described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stretching frame comprising spaced posts, horizontal rails abutting one of said posts and extending beyond the other, and auxiliary posts attached to said second mentioned posts and to one only of said rails respectively to constitute an auxiliary stretching frame.

2. In a stretching frame, spaced posts, transverse rails extending therebetween and beyond at least one of said posts, an auxiliary post attached 14 to the free end of one of said rails only, a second auxiliary post connected to one of said first mentioned posts, an auxiliary rail attached to said last mentioned post, and means for maintaining a fixed angular relation therebetween.

3. In a stretching frame having posts and transverse rails, an auxiliary frame formed by the overhanging end of. one'of said rails and by an auxiliary rail, and an auxiliary post removably at-' tached to one of said first mentioned posts.

4. In a stretching frame comprising posts and horizontal rails therebetween, one of said rails overlying one of said posts at one point at least, and pin plates attachable to said post for providing a series ofstretching pins in a plane sloping gradually from that of the post to that of .the rail.

5. In a stretching frame, an upstanding post, a rail overlying said post, and a pin plate connecting the planes of said post and rail at a slight angle.

6. In astretching frame, a pair of upstanding posts, a cross rail hinged to one of said posts, an angle plate secured to said rail and adapted to overlie the end of saidone of said posts for insuring the desired angular relation of the post and rail, and a collapsiblebrace connecting said rail with the post to which it is hin ed for further fixing the relative positions of said members.

7. In a stretching frame,

saidposts'hinged to one of said posts, an angle plate secured to said rail and adapted to oyerlie the endof said one of said posts, and means for fixing the angular relation between the rail and the post to which it is hinged 8. A stretching frame comprising spaced upstanding posts, cross rails extending between said posts, said posts and rails being provided with fabric-attachingmeans, one of said posts having a clamping plate pivoted to one face about an axis parallel to the rails, a fixed cooperating plate secured tothe other face, and a clamping screw pivoted tothe fixed plate having a nut for cooperation with the pivoted plate.

9. An adjustable stretching frame comprising rail, and means for a prising posts upstanding verticalposts spaced apart, a cross rail extending between spaced posts, rails extending therebetween, one of said rails overlying one of said posts, a slide on one of said posts, a clamping plate reciprocable on said slide for engagement withsaid post, means for actuating said clamp, said slide having spaced edges for engaging the lower edge of one of said rails, and a second clamping plate movably mounted on said slide for engaging said tuating said second clamping plate.

10. In a stretching device, a main frame com and transverse rails extending therebetween and beyond at least one of said posts, at least one rail being adjustable vertically of the posts, auxiliary posts extending between the overhanging ends t said rails and terminating below the upper one, and an auxiliary rail adjustable vertically of said auxiliary posts and independently of said transverse rails.

11. In a stretching frame including a post and a transverse rail, a sheet metal sleeve slidable on said post having a clamp plate engaging the post, said sleeve being formed for the reception of said rail in a position overlying said post, a clamp plate on the sleeve for engaging the rail, and cam levers for operating said clamp plates.

12. In a stretching frame, post and rail members forming a main stretching frame, auxiliary 'posts and an auxiliary rail cooperating with one of the posts and one of the rails of the main stretching frameto form an auxiliary stretching frame, one of said auxiliary posts and said auxiliary rail being adjustable relative to the main frame,

JOHN F. DOUGHERTY.

' CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

mm at. 1,929, 629.

JOHN F.

, October 10, 1933,

DOUGHERTY.

' 'It is hcrebycertitied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patcntrequi'ring correction as. v

and that thesaid Letters Patent Should be read with "strip as" read strap is;

follows: PageZ, line 23, for

this correctioniherein that the same may-conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

' Signedandeealed this 12th day I L (Seal) of December, 'A. D. i933.

F. M. Hopkins Acting Commissioner of Patent 

